Horses, Harbours and Happenings:Steve and Sue visit Chincoteague and Hilton Head, May 2009! - COMPLETE - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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We got in our car, now parked in a real spot and left the resort. We were headed towards the Sea Pines area of Hilton Head.
Sea Pines is a gated area/community towards the edge of the island. There are resorts, homes, restaurants, shopping and recreation areas. It is divided into several areas, each with their own unique personality. We drove down the main road in Hilton Head (the aptly named "William Hilton Parkway" ) and went through the gate. You pay $5 for an all-day pass. If you are a resident or renter there, you get a sticker to put on your car that lets you cruise through the FastPass lane with no waiting.
When we decided to come to HHI, in November, I did a bit of research on the area. That had all taken a back seat while other vacations and life plans took over. Then, about 2 weeks before the trip, I realized I had better do some planning. Steve and I had visited the Sea Pines area on our last quick stay to go horseback riding. We also had driven down to the waterfront but never got out of the car. I wanted to do a bit more this trip, as the area seemed really nice.
We had talked about horseback riding again, but the price had gone up significantly since 2004. I just couldn't justify spending $120 for both of us (plus tip) for a one hour ride. We drove down the main road, which became Plantation Drive after the gate. We passed the stables on the right. Steve stared wistfully at the horses and started to talk about riding. Um...no, honey. He was OK with that but then started to ask, "Well, what else is there to do here, then?" Can you see why I am the trip planner? He would look like those people that go to WDW and don't even look at a book or a map before they arrive!
We continued on towards Harbourtown. My plan for this part of the trip was to eat lunch at the Salty Dog Cafe and then see the lighthouse. Unfortunately, I got my signals (and my directions) crossed and put the lighthouse directions in first. So Garmin took us to Harbourtown.
We parked in an incredible spot (must have been our reward for the parking issue last night ) and got out. It had rained here, and there was lots of mud and sand puddles! We managed to miss most of them. When we got out, I realized that this was not where the Salty Dog was, but where the lighthouse was. No problem, we would go see the lighthouse first and then go to lunch. We walked around the area a bit, and of course, Steve wanted to eat. "How about here?" "Here?" I told him we already had lunch plans. He whined a little (ok a lot) but finally decided that listening to me was probably a good thing.
So we headed over to the lighthouse. We both looked up and said....
"um....this can't be the lighthouse, can it?"
It was tiny!! 90 feet tall total!! It was a baby lighthouse! We initially thought it was a replica of the real lighthouse, but no, this tiny, albeit beautiful, lighthouse, was the HH light! We paid our $3 and went in.
Looking taller:
The view from below:
And away we went:
Once we started the climb, Steve was really glad we did this. Why? The entire inside of the lighthouse was a museum dedicated to the Civil War! Steve is a Civil War buff, so we ended up spending quite a bit of time in here!
Halfway there:
And we got to the top! The top was an outdoor viewing area, which was really nice!
They also had a webcam set up! You could stand at a certain place and look at the camera. Then, your friends and family back home could log on and see you, live and in person, having a great time on vacation while they were stuck working. We tried to text Mike to have him log on, but he was one of those poor souls stuck working, so he didn't get to see his parents spending his inheritance on Hilton Head Island!
We hiked down the 70-some odd steps and poked around the shops a little. They were cute but very very touristy and PRICEY! We decided it was time for lunch, so we jumped back in the car, programmed Garmin with the RIGHT location this time, and headed down to the Salty Dog Cafe.
I love your pictures of Harbourtown and the lighthouse. So you ate over at the Salty Dog and not in Harbourtown? I hope you had some she-crab soup for me. One night when we ate there, DH ordered the she-crab soup. When it came, he gave me a taste, and right after I flagged down the server for a bowl for myself! I was wondering if you've eaten at Waterfront Cafe in Harbourtown. Last time we ate there it was named Cafe Europa, and we really enjoyed it. But it's closed when we usually go, so we haven't eaten there under its new name. If you have, how is it?
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We left Harbourtown and drove to the South Beach Marina in search of the Salty Dog Cafe. Garmin did not let us down and we were there in no time at all. We parked, and gave our name at the podium. I stopped at the ladies room:
And took a few more sign pictures:
The Salty Dog Cafe is one of several restaurants and experiences revolving around good food, good drinks and Jake, the original Salty Dog:
Mementos of Jake can be seen everywhere. His heroic adventures of saving his master, John, from a raging sea by swimming for three days and nights, are legend in these parts.
Soon, our pager went off and we were seated. Our table was outside. overlooking the marina. Naturally, I was forced to take some pictures.
I ordered a coconut something and Steve got a Kahlua Colada. They were both wonderful!
Steve ordered a burger, I had a shrimp cheese hoagie:
with a side of hush puppies:
Our server was Sara:
Sara had recently graduated from Ohio State and was teaching first grade. She decided that she didn't like the Ohio winters anymore, so 8 weeks ago, she packed up her apartment, her car and her three dogs and moved to Hilton Head. She is waitressing at the Salty Dog while she returns to school to complete her masters. Pretty darn ambitious if you ask me!
We left the Salty Dog Cafe and walked over to the Salty Dog ICe Cream Shop, where ONE of us still had room for dessert:
After lunch, we left South Beach and went back to the resort. We relaxed and napped a bit. Tonight we were doing something we have never done in all our DVC vacations: we were cooking in! I had brought all the fixin's to make lasanga, and I threw it together in no time! It cooked, Steve made us drinks and we had a wonderful relaxing dinner on our patio:
After dinner, Steve wanted to nap a bit, and I wanted to walk around the resort. We compromised: he napped and I walked around the resort!
I took a few nightime pictures of the resort:
Tonight they were having a campfire. I stopped by, but it was more family/kid oriented and I decided I would rather take pictures.
The campfire pit:
The marshes in the evening:
Some sunset shots:
Around the resort at night:
I walked down the outer road and took a few pictures of Shelter Cove:
This is my personal favorite:
I walked back to our villa. Steve was awake and watching DVD's. We decided to watch some of our trip DVD's, and we watched about 4. I checked email and played around on the laptop a bit, but I was pretty tired. I went to bed at about 10:30 and was asleep long before Steve got there!
I love your pictures of Harbourtown and the lighthouse. So you ate over at the Salty Dog and not in Harbourtown? I hope you had some she-crab soup for me. One night when we ate there, DH ordered the she-crab soup. When it came, he gave me a taste, and right after I flagged down the server for a bowl for myself! I was wondering if you've eaten at Waterfront Cafe in Harbourtown. Last time we ate there it was named Cafe Europa, and we really enjoyed it. But it's closed when we usually go, so we haven't eaten there under its new name. If you have, how is it?
Wow, we ALMOST ate at the Waterfront Cafe! That was the place Steve was looking at when I told him we were heading to the Salty Dog. I did not have the she-crab soup, but now I have an excuse to go back!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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and left the resort. We were headed towards the Sea Pines area of Hilton Head.
Can you see why I am the trip planner? 
He would look like those people that go to WDW and don't even look at a book or a map before they arrive! 
It was a baby lighthouse! We initially thought it was a replica of the real lighthouse, but no, this tiny, albeit beautiful, lighthouse, was the HH light! We paid our $3 and went in.
I had brought all the fixin's to make lasanga, and I threw it together in no time! It cooked, Steve made us drinks and we had a wonderful relaxing dinner on our patio:
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